Reducing risk of complications associated with tissue ablation

Abstract

Methods and systems are described that reduce risks of hematologic, metabolic, and renal complications in a mammal, such as a human, undergoing tissue ablation. One such method includes inserting a probe into a mammal and ablating abnormal tissue in the mammal by emitting a first amount of energy from the probe. In some embodiments, after emitting the first amount of energy, a method can include denaturing proteins released from cells in the abnormal tissue by emitting a second amount of energy from at least one of the first probe or a second probe inserted into the mammal. Furthermore, some embodiments can be implemented such that during or after the emitting the energy from a probe, a composition is administered to the mammal in an effective amount to denature proteins released from cells in the abnormal tissue.

1 . A method for reducing a risk of hematologic and/or metabolic complications in a mammal undergoing tissue ablation, comprising:
 inserting a first probe into a mammal;   ablating abnormal tissue in the mammal by emitting a first amount of energy from the first probe; and   after emitting the first amount of energy, denaturing proteins released from cells in the abnormal tissue by emitting a second amount of energy from at least one of the first probe or a second probe inserted into the mammal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring heating of a region of tissue comprising the abnormal tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monitoring heating occurs during emission of the first amount of energy. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monitoring is performed with a temperature sensor placed in the mammal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monitoring is performed by imaging with at least one of x-ray, ultrasound, computed topography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monitoring heating occurs during emission of the second amount of energy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second amount of energy is emitted at least until the temperature of a region of tissue reaches about 42° C. to about 60° C. such that proteins released from cells in the abnormal tissue can be denatured. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second amount of energy is emitted until the temperature of the region of tissue reaches about 42° C. to about 60° C. for at least one hour. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second amount of energy is emitted such at least until the temperature of a region of tissue reaches about 62° C. 
     
     
         10 . A method of reducing a risk of hematologic and metabolic complications in a mammal undergoing tissue ablation, comprising:
 inserting a probe into a mammal;   ablating abnormal tissue in the mammal by emitting energy from the probe; and   administering a composition to the mammal in an effective amount to denature proteins released from cells in the abnormal tissue.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the administering occurs during the emitting. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition is administered through the probe. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the administering comprises infusing a contrast agent into the mammal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the contrast agent is heated before the administering. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the contrast agent is administered with saline, wherein with saline is hypertonic relative to a concentration of saline in the mammal's circulation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition comprises a denaturing agent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the denaturing agent comprises at least one of a chaotropic agent, a lyotropic agent, an organic denaturant, or a detergent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the chaotropic agent is urea. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising monitoring the denaturation of proteins released from a region of tissue comprising the abnormal tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the effective amount is effective to reduce a risk in a mammal of at least one of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), tumor lysis syndrome, infection, bleeding, hemorrhage, tumor seeding, or multisystem organ failure.